Here's something. Before I was diagnosed with Aspergers 7 years ago (my 3rd year of college), I had attributed much of my behavior to trying my best to follow certain aspects of the Bible. A lot of this made sense, since most people don't seem to do that, even Christians. The inability to fit in makes sense because for the most part, I would have nothing to do with the things that most people tend to do, or talk about those things they want to talk about. Since being diagnosed, Aspergers has explained several inconsistencies in my attitudes that seem to be contrary to how a good Christian should act. For instance, I think every person is a masterpiece that God has created and has very high value because God places high value on them. Yet, for the most part, I can't stand being around and interacting with many people or at certain times. It would be easy for someone to think that I don't like them, when in fact, I love them and think they're awesome. Now I have to reconcile my identity in Christ with my identity as a person with Aspergers. When introducing myself, would it be more natural for me to say "Hi, I'm Andy, I'm a Christian" or "Hi, I'm Andy, I have Asperger's syndrome"?
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Asperger Identity
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TheMissus
It's as easy as you make it.
- Jul 27, 2006
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I think it would be best to simply say "Hi, I'm Andy." The people who need to know you've got AS can learn about it when you're ready to tell them.
Try the method my husband used with me- "Ever hear of AS? Do you know someone with it? Well, now you know another." It worked fine.
Good luck.
Try the method my husband used with me- "Ever hear of AS? Do you know someone with it? Well, now you know another." It worked fine.
Good luck.
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uniquetadpole
I have no problems, just challenges!
I agree...Just say "Hi, I am Andy" God will take care of the rest.
Because you aren't your AS... you simply think differently... and as for the whole Christian Identity... if you are walking your walk...then that will speak for itself... don't ya think?
Tad
Because you aren't your AS... you simply think differently... and as for the whole Christian Identity... if you are walking your walk...then that will speak for itself... don't ya think?
Tad
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Don't hold on to the label, let go. The bible says that one can only enter the kingdom of heaven like a little child. The Holy Spirit will put in your heart what you need to speak when you need to speak it. No need for preparation.
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Slina
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Yeah, I'd expect the most natural thing to say would be just "Hi, I'm Andy." It might be my aspieness talking, but to me, the rest doesn't really seem necessary in an introduction. The rest might come up before long, but to me at least, what's natural would depend a lot on the other person and especially the conversation itself. (Quite honestly though, I personally tend to be more likely to say I'm a Christian than that I'm aspie. Not sure why... maybe aspieness just feels more 'personal' or something, but I guess part of it's just because I really can't say that most people really need to even know.)
Reconciling the two 'identities' really isn't impossible at all, though. The first few weeks after my diagnosis (and I think leading up to it, even), I had several parts of Psalm 139 quoted to me several times, especially phrases like "...for I am fearfully and wonderfully made," with the point being, of course, that God knew what he was doing when he made me, and that there was a purpose to this whole aspie thing, as annoying as it seems to me. I'm probably starting to sound off-topic already, but I think I was trying to say that we can definitely be both, and that one doesn't necessarily cancel out the other or anything. And really, it doesn't ultimately matter what other people think of us. We know whether or not we're trying, and more importantly, God knows, and it's his opinion that ultimately matters. (now just to convince myself of that a bit more effectively...) So anyway, I'm not quite sure how all of that was on topic, except as a fairly long way of saying that yep, being a Christian and being an aspie can most definitely go together quite nicely.
Reconciling the two 'identities' really isn't impossible at all, though. The first few weeks after my diagnosis (and I think leading up to it, even), I had several parts of Psalm 139 quoted to me several times, especially phrases like "...for I am fearfully and wonderfully made," with the point being, of course, that God knew what he was doing when he made me, and that there was a purpose to this whole aspie thing, as annoying as it seems to me. I'm probably starting to sound off-topic already, but I think I was trying to say that we can definitely be both, and that one doesn't necessarily cancel out the other or anything. And really, it doesn't ultimately matter what other people think of us. We know whether or not we're trying, and more importantly, God knows, and it's his opinion that ultimately matters. (now just to convince myself of that a bit more effectively...) So anyway, I'm not quite sure how all of that was on topic, except as a fairly long way of saying that yep, being a Christian and being an aspie can most definitely go together quite nicely.
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I think it's not really important to quote what we are, say "I'm a Christian" or "I'm an aspie", especially for first meetings.
The problem with quoting who we are is that we still have to explain ourselves. I think it is more essential that people discover us with our acts. thus, they would say "oh, he/she is really a christian. I can see Christ in him/her" or people might wonder "What's with her that's so odd? (our aspie manifestations)" But that's the sad part-- that people would start labeling us and interrogating our behaviors.
For that part I think we only explain ourselves to people whom we want to work on with our aspie behaviors. I call them accountability friends. They are people who get annoyed at me but are patient to correct me especially in social situations. as Proverbs says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" If you tell each person you meet that you are an aspie, they might just get annoyed and laugh at you when you screw up in social situations, mumbling to each other that an aspie screwed up.
The problem with quoting who we are is that we still have to explain ourselves. I think it is more essential that people discover us with our acts. thus, they would say "oh, he/she is really a christian. I can see Christ in him/her" or people might wonder "What's with her that's so odd? (our aspie manifestations)" But that's the sad part-- that people would start labeling us and interrogating our behaviors.
For that part I think we only explain ourselves to people whom we want to work on with our aspie behaviors. I call them accountability friends. They are people who get annoyed at me but are patient to correct me especially in social situations. as Proverbs says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" If you tell each person you meet that you are an aspie, they might just get annoyed and laugh at you when you screw up in social situations, mumbling to each other that an aspie screwed up.
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